If your homeschooler is nearing college, as a homeschool parent, you may be considering how to adequately equip your student. Alternatively, you might be contemplating whether sending your homeschooler to a school would be beneficial in preparing them for higher education, or if homeschooling could have negative consequences on their college acceptance prospects.
It can be reassuring to know that research indicates homeschooling does not have a negative effect on college admission. In fact, in certain instances, homeschooling might even present unique opportunities for your children. If your kids have shown an interest in attending college, it’s important for you to be aware of the admission requirements and scholarships that can help them excel in their college journey.
Homeschooling and college stats
Over the past few decades, there has been a continuous increase in the proportion of American children who are homeschooled. In 2020, this percentage doubled in comparison to 2019. The college application of homeschool and private school students share minimal dissimilarities. The main concern in both scenarios is that colleges might not be aware of your educational institution. As for other individuals, alternative non-college choices may be more attractive.
How to prepare your homeschooler for college
Homeschoolers often attend college and achieve success, so it can be concluded that homeschooling does not hinder college admission. Here are ten suggestions for getting your homeschooler ready for college. Implement the strategies that suit your family’s needs.
1. Develop writing skills
Begin writing as soon as possible. Essays are often required in college applications. Your child’s ability to write well is crucial, as a badly written essay can negatively impact their chances of acceptance. Essays provide a chance to showcase important skills that colleges value, such as leadership, service, and initiative.
Numerous colleges have included a COVID-19 essay as an optional requirement on their applications. Utilizing this essay, your child can elaborate on any pandemic-related challenges that may have impacted their academic performance. Alternatively, if the pandemic did not have an adverse effect on your child’s scores, he can also utilize this essay to showcase how he triumphed over obstacles during this period.
2. Engage in extracurricular activities that highlight your child’s skills
By homeschooling, families can have a more flexible schedule, which provides additional time for extracurricular activities. It is advisable to participate in multiple activities, but it is important to carefully select one or two that align with the skills that colleges value the most, in order to dedicate more time and focus on them.
It is important to keep a record of these activities, as it will be useful when completing college applications. If the chance arises, encourage your children to engage in community service and leadership development activities.
3. Keep thorough records of your child’s coursework
Create course descriptions for your child’s transcript, ensuring to document all classes taken. It is important to begin collecting this information before your child begins applying to colleges. If you are currently preparing annual portfolios, you can merge this task with that. In the case of being enrolled in an accredited homeschool program, they will supply a formal transcript and diploma.
4. Stay on track
To ensure proper preparation for standardized tests, particularly in mathematics, it is advisable to adhere to a recommended sequence of courses. For instance, prior to taking the SAT or ACT, students should have successfully finished Geometry and acquired a foundation in Algebra.
5. Practice standardized testing
If your child has more opportunities to practice, standardized testing will become easier for them. It differs greatly from other types of testing. It is advisable for your children to participate in the test available every year during their high school years. Additionally, instruct them on test-taking techniques such as relying on their initial instincts and initially skipping challenging questions to allow sufficient time for answering the simpler ones.
The ACT and SAT offer practice tests, which give students a low-pressure opportunity to become familiar with the test format and content. SAT subject tests can showcase a student’s proficiency in a specific subject on their college application if they excel in it.
6. Assist your child in determining the true challenges they are facing.
What is the actual nature of the test? What are the proportions for each subject? What marks does your child require to meet the criteria set by their desired colleges? How does your child’s present academic level in each subject compare to what is necessary for achieving good scores on the test? Conducting a pre-assessment examination, such as the PSAT, can offer valuable feedback to assist your child in formulating a specific study strategy.
7. Locate the resources that are required.
Your child will gain significant benefits from practicing for college entrance exams as they are intentionally designed to be challenging.
Besides seeking out resources that are specifically designed for a specific college entrance exam, make sure to also consider resources that offer practice opportunities that are not focused solely on the exam or composed of past exam questions. Expanding the range of resources used can aid your child in grasping a concept holistically rather than merely memorizing responses.
8. Make a plan to dedicate time for reassessing the progress made.
A plan serves as a mere framework, while the actual studying process is what will reveal which areas require the most focus for your child.
Perhaps your child had some initial concerns about the reading section of the test, but soon realized that it was the writing section that posed a challenge. Furthermore, undergoing a reevaluation can help your child recognize that they have made progress and should take pride in their achievements thus far.
9. Concentrate on areas of weakness.
When it comes to college entrance exams, there is a limit to how much your child’s knowledge of math can be reflected. Even if your child knows a great deal about math, there exists a maximum score on the test that cannot be surpassed.
Unfortunately, it is an undeniable truth. Consequently, focusing more on weaknesses would be beneficial in order to enhance the overall score. This particularly holds true for students who are homeschooled since a well-rounded educational background is reflected by a balanced score.
10. Achieving perfection involves practicing and ensuring a good night’s sleep.
Learning is not a mysterious phenomenon but rather a physical process that relies on specific conditions, such as sleep. Getting a proper amount of sleep throughout the night ensures that studying efforts endure. Even when faced with imminent deadlines, it is vital to convey to your child that dedicating enough time for sufficient sleep is just as crucial as allocating enough time for practicing problems.
11. Assist your child in comprehending their individual learning style.
Just because the college entrance exams are standardized doesn’t mean that the study process has to be standardized as well. Teach your child to leverage their unique learning style by incorporating elements such as graphs, charts, audio files for vocabulary, or even hands-on materials like blocks and pipe cleaners for geometry problems while preparing for these tests.
12. Have faith in your child.
Although the noise might be bothersome to you, it is possible that your child actually learns better with music playing or the television on in the background. There are some children who require solitude in order to study effectively, while others thrive in pairs or small groups. Rather than attempting to closely control the study process, allow your child to make certain decisions regarding where, what, and how long to study.
Take a moment to be understanding and forgiving towards yourself and your child.
Things may not go according to the plan, but it is important for you to be a good example for your child. Do not panic if an unexpected situation occurs that disrupts your test preparation schedule. Teach your child that adapting to new circumstances and balancing various responsibilities is a normal part of life. The key is to quickly return to the original plan.
